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State Graduate Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence Launches in Heilbronn to Train Future AI Leaders
The University of Stuttgart, KIT, and Tübingen are launching Germany’s first state graduate center for applied AI in Heilbronn. It will focus on research in chip design, robotics, and cybersecurity.
Establishment of a State Graduate Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence
May 16, 2025
The University of Stuttgart is joining forces with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the University of Tübingen to set up a state graduate center for applied artificial intelligence (LGZ) in Heilbronn. This center, unique in Germany, focuses on advanced research and training for doctoral candidates working at the crossroads of computer science, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. Key research areas will include chip design, robotics, and cybersecurity.
Science Minister Petra Olschowski highlighted the center’s role as an experimental space with flexible conditions to develop new formats for training top doctoral researchers. The LGZ will also foster cooperation between academia, industry, and start-ups, creating an environment that supports innovation and talent development.
Goals and Milestones
The LGZ’s founding universities and the state have committed to key objectives to be met by 2028. These include:
- Attracting leading international professors and doctoral researchers
- Supporting doctoral candidates in start-up initiatives
- Launching a specialized master's program
An international scientific and strategic advisory board will guide the center’s development. The partnership between KIT, the University of Stuttgart, and the University of Tübingen will ensure a strong foundation for advancing applied AI research and education.
Collaboration and Application
Professor Peter Middendorf, Rector of the University of Stuttgart, emphasized the importance of translating AI research into practical applications. He noted that the LGZ will foster collaboration among partner universities within a strengthened innovation ecosystem, making joint contributions to critical future challenges.
The LGZ will operate as a branch of KIT on the Heilbronn campus with joint management by the three universities. Initial funding of 1.4 million euros is allocated for 2025, followed by 11 million euros in 2026. The center will expand gradually until 2028 and is expected to be fully operational by 2029. At full scale, it will host 10 professors, 57 doctoral researchers, and 19 postdoctoral researchers across multiple disciplines. Annual funding will reach up to 30 million euros.
This initiative offers significant opportunities for those involved in AI research and development, particularly in applied fields that integrate multiple engineering disciplines.
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